Installation for a dexterity game



Jan. 31, 1961 H. W. BATT INSTALLATION FOR A DEXTERITY GAME Filed 001;. 15, 1957 Hugo W- BATT I \NVENTQK INSTALLATION FOR A DEXTERITY GAME Hugo W. Batt, Neufeldstrasse 130, Bern, Switzerland Filed Oct. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 690,234

Claims priority, application Switzerland Oct. 15, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl. 273118) The present invention refers to a game apparatus for a dexterity game employing at least one freely moving ball, such as for example, a golf ball which may be driven by striking the same with a golf club or the like. The apparatus is adapted to be placed upon a substantially horizontal and smooth playing field on the ground on which field is placed a novel arrangement of rigid bars which may be easily Stepped over and which are arranged to ricochet balls driven thereagainst.

As distinguished from other games such as golf, hockey, croquet and the like which require a relatively large and often very expensive playing surface with relatively high installation costs, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide by means of a relatively simple apparatus with a considerably smaller playing surface and low installation costs for playing a variety of oneman, partly or social games.

The present invention provides the players with a sporting activity requiring little vigor and is therefore suitable for ladies and even elderly persons. Moreover, it provides a most surprising play effect and psychically agreeable incitement. The field may be in the open air as, for example, on readily available level areas, such as may be found on terraces, in gardens, on roof gardens, tennis courts or on sheets of ice, and it may likewise be installed indoors such as in living rooms, cellars, dance halls, gymnasiums, exposition halls and the like.

The apparatus according to the invention consists of a field divided by bars into two rows of adjoining compartments arranged in double symmetry with respect to two axes crossing each other at right angles. Between successive compartments communicating gates are left open, the gates as a whole defining a course through all compartments and forming a figure without intersections and having symmetry with respect to the crossed axes.

The invention is set forth in the following specification illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating a modified form the invention may assume. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a field 1 is formed with a uniformly level surface on a stable base such as concrete, a bituminousor wooden floor, or by a covering of linoleum, rubber or the like spread upon a proper flooring or even upon an iceskating rink, and is bordered by a system of connected bar 2 defining a rectangular area.

The field 1 is divided into eight equal square compartments 5 by means of a second system of connected bars 3 and 4 extending in straight lines in longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively, the compartments being arranged in double symmetry with regard to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the rectangular field so as to form two adjoining longitudinal rows each consisting of four compartments. The bars 3 form two rightangled intersections as indicated at 12 while the bars 4 are aratent ranged on the transverse axis of the rectangle and connected with the bordering bars 2.

Between the bars 2 and each of the free ends of the transversely extending bars 3; between the free ends of the bars 4 and the longitudinally extending bar 3; and between the free ends of the longitudinal bar 3 and the adjacent bars 2, a communicating gate 6 is left open, thus interconnecting certain corner surface portions of adjoining compartments. Each compartment 5 is provided with two of such gates 6.

The gates 6 determine a course running through all compartments, such course being marked on the field by a line or strip of constant width indicated at 7. The course is uninterrupted and free of any intersections and forms a continuous closed figure which is in symmetry with the longitudinal and transverse axes of the rectangular field. The course runs diagonally across each of the compartments 5 and it has in each of the gates 6 a contact point with the bars 2 or 3, as the case may be.

The bars are of a rigid and homogeneous quality so that a ricocheting ball will be uniformly bounced from any point. Preferably the bars are made of pieces of tubing which are removably fitted into one another and welded at the corner portions of each bar system, their axes being substantially at a level above the surface of the field in which the centers of the balls may move.

The tubes have a diameter of preferably abouttwo inches and, since they rest directly on the surface of the field, may be easily stepped over. Since the preferred sized field with eight compartments has a length of twenty feet and a width of ten feet, and since the width of the gates 6 is but five and one-half inches, the weight of the bars themselves, without anchorage, will generally be sufficient to prevent the bars from shifting due to impact of the balls or by unintended contact with the feet of the players.

It will be seen from the drawing that the free ends of each of the bars 3 and 4 are pointed or wedge-shaped. The center of each compartment is marked on the course line 7 by a circle or circular spot 9.

It will be understood that the dimensions of the field may differ from the above-mentioned standards to adapt to local conditions. The compartments 5, instead of being square, may have a uniform rectangular shape and size. The gates may be adjustable in width and, instead of being arranged in corners of the compartments 5, may be disposed elsewhere in the arrangement of bars always in such manner, however, that the symmetry with regard to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the field and the course is maintained.

The installation above described offers equal chances to each player in each compartment, which is a fundamental requirement in every party or social game. More over, the arrangement of the compartments in two rows and in symmetry permits at a glance a general view of the actual state of a particular game at any time.

The character and rules of play of various games which may be played with the present apparatus is particularly made possible by the arrangement of gates at diagonal corner portions of each compartment, which arrangement provides such advantages as, for example:

(I) The diagonal line always forms a straight course of maximum length in a compartment.

(2) Every gate is faced on both adapted to rebound a ball. I Y

(3 The passage of a ball through a gate connected with-a reflection shot will prove more congenial and pleasing than that through a frontal gate of .even width, influenced by the fact that the number of,uncontrolled ricochets from the edges of the gate are reduced. by 5.0% and because of the particularangle of rebound desired in a particular shot at the bar extending transversely to sides with a bar Patented Jan. 31, 1961 the alignment of the gate, a great portion of the width of such gate corresponding to the hypoteneuse parallel to the direction of such rebound angle, thus making such shots more difficult yet rewarding when completed.

(4) With regard to thecorner' gates each compartment has only one dead corner space, whereas a frontal gate would provide two dead spaces. 7

The passage of a ball through a gate will usually cause the rolling ball to successively bounce from the four bars of the next compartment and to describe a rhomboidal quadrangular path changing with each reflection due to the angle of incidence being somewhat larger than the angle of reflection. Two sides of this rhomboid are always fairly transverse to the gate and bring the ball from favorable'positions for further strokes to unfavorable or the reverse. It is obvious that with regard to the gate 6 a triangle in the compartment on the side of the gate course constitutes a favorable position for the ball to be played directly through the gate, while from an unfavorably situated triangle in such compartment, the indirect play of the ball into the gate by means of a preceding reflection or ricochet from a distant bar is practically necessary or may even be prescribed by rules.

(6) Finally, the corner gate provides an opportunity to predetermine changes of general direction through the gate course without afiecting the players performance of his game. This is an advantage of having the course assume a closed figure as above described.

Of the numerous games which may be played with the above-described apparatus for a single player or for match or team players with one or several balls, only a few will be set forth below for the purpose of illustrating the multifold uses which may be made of the apparatus. In most games the degree of dexterity desired may be varied by employing different rules or types of games. For example, the rules may call for a ball to be struck only while moving or, alternatively, only while at a standstill. Again the rules may require two balls to be driven over the course in a tandem type of play by reciprocal impact. It may also be required that the ball must be ricocheted from an opposite wall before passing through a gate.

The following are exemplary of games which may be played: 7

(l) A game wherein is scored'the number of strokes for one or several rounds over the course.

(2) A game wherein is considered the time required for one or several rounds.

(3) Series games, in which two or three players play according to a given type of play until a predetermined number of gates or rounds are completed, changing of players taking place after a predetermined number of strokes or after a player has missed a gate.

(4) Courier games in which six to twenty-four players forming two teams play on separate rows or compartments as if both gates at the narrow ends of the field were closed.

(5) Pursing games, with two or four players who start at a distance of two compartments from each other and try to overtake each other.

(6) Track-hunting games with two to eight players, wherein the player in the rearmost compartment of the course must drive his ball, as a hare, successively through the compartments of the other players until he reaches the head of the track. When he misses a gate, the player keeping the respective compartment must try, as a hunter, to shoot his ball at the hares ball. Each good shot counts for the hunter as a plus-point and for the hare as W o a minus-point, and a bad shot counts in the opposlte manner. When reaching the head the hare player'oceupies the next compartment which is free'of balls and, now becoming a hunter, the last hunter becomes the hare;

(7) Boccia game for two or more p1ayers, 'whereinthe bars 4 situated in the transverse axis of the field or the bars extending on the narrow side of the field or the center 12 of the field may be used as a goal. Owing to the double symmetry of the field the parties may play simultaneously but separated from each other, toward the same goal. The winning balls may then easily be determined by their distance from the goal.

(8') Fighting games for two or four players, wherein the players try in frontal fight to drive each other back from compartment to compartment, each player or each team of players having a single ball.

The basis for each of the various games mentioned may be easily determined by the number of players available and the locale of theparticular field.

Instead of eight compartments, the field may have twelve or only four, always arranged, however, in two symmetrical rows. The twelve compartment field needs considerably more space and renders a general view of a particular game far more difficult than the one above described, while a four compartment field is too short for use as a double track for competition or fighting games.

What I claim is:

1. A game apparatus of the character described comprising a substantially fiat field, bars arranged in a rectangular frame bordering and resting upon said field, and a second system of bars resting upon said fieldand'comprising a centrally disposed bar extending along the longitudinal axis of said frame to points adjacent to and spaced from the shorter sides of said frame, bars extending centrally at right angles from each longitudinal side of said frame to points adjacent to and spaced from said centrally disposed bar, and bars extending outwardly at right angles from each side of said centrally disposed bar from points thereon midway between its center and the adjacent shorter sides of said frame to points adjacent to and spaced from the longitudinal sides of said frame.

2. A game apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said bars are all circular in cross section and wherein a ball'is provided upon said field, said ball having a radius substantially identical with the radius of said bars.

3. A game apparatus of the character described comprising an elongated rectangular field, four outer bars resting on the edges of said field and forming an elongated rectangular frame, a central bar extending along the longitudinal axis of said frame to points adjacent to and spaced from the shorter sides of said frame, a series of regularly longitudinally spaced transverse bars disposed within said frame, at least two of said bars each extending inwardly from one of the longer sides of said frame to a point adjacent to and spaced from the mid point of said central bar andat least four of said bars extending'outwardly from said central bar each to a point adjacent to and spaced from one of the longer sides of said frame, each of said four outwardly extending bars being equidistant from one of said inwardly extending bars and one of the shorter sides of said frame, each of said inwardly extending bars being equidistant from two adjacent outwardly extending bars.

4. A game apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said bars are all circular in cross section and wherein a ball is provided upon said field, said ball having a radius substantially identical with the radius of said bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 675,807 Berkey .4... June 4, 1901 1,195,173 Beamer et al. Aug. 22, 1916 1,574,572 Grove ....i. Feb. 23, 1926 1,856,117 7 Small L. May 3, 1932 1,952,624 'Inmam et al. Mar. 27, 1934 2,742,291. Simon Apr. 17', 1956 

